Major Works
INTERNALS
In 2015 the Cedars Estate benefited from replacement kitchens, bathrooms, electrical rewiring of the tenant’s properties, renewal of windows and further roof insulation works.
EXTERNALS EWI / ECO – FUNDING
In 2015 CETRA secured from British Gas £3.5 million to attach external cladding to the blocks under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) programme ensuring our properties are energy efficient.
In 2015 Rockwool External wall insulation was fixed to the exterior of all properties keeping your property warmer in winter and cooler in summer, whilst at the same time reducing carbon emissions. The high-performance insulation slab was rendered to give protective and decorative coating to the existing façade.
One of the main advantages of external wall insulation is that it reduces your energy use and could save you up to £160.00 a year. It also helps increase the sound resistance and provides a fresh new look to your home.
Please find as follows the Cedars estate operation, care and maintenance manual for the Major works that had taken place:
Link: CEDARS ESTATE Operation care and maintenance manual
The main categories of the manual include – External wall insulation (EWI), windows, front doors and integrated reception systems (IRS).
WINDOWS
CETRA’s residents received a window renewal programme in 2015/2016 to coincide with the external cladding work.
In addition, CETRA lobbied Lambeth to increase the roof insulation.
The improvements to the roof insulation almost doubled the existing thickness. This combined with better more efficient windows and the application of external cladding will maximise the benefit of reducing heat loss and reducing energy usage.
Unfortunately, as part of the cladding process, all awnings / hanging baskets were removed and could not be replaced in their original position. Residents wanting to have plants were asked to consider floor mounted plant pots / troughs instead.
Cedars Estate residents also benefited from communal TV system, with each block having just one TV Ariel and satellite dish.
Should you encounter any issues concerning TV aerial or satellite, please view the following information SSCI – TV fault questionnaire.
NEW FD30 FRONT DOORS
In November 2025, Lambeth council began a programme of replacing tenanted front doors with the current FD30 doors which are designed to resist fire for about 30 minutes.
The key reasons for the replacements are:
- Prevent fire spreading from a flat into the communal hallway – the front door is a critical barrier between your home and the escape route.
- Protect the communal escape route – if a fire starts inside a flat, the door should help keep smoke and flames contained long enough for people to escape.
- Building regulations and fire-risk assessments – Lambeth have been inspecting existing housing stock and identifying doors that don’t provide adequate fire resistance.
- Post-Grenfell fire safety changes – the Grenfell Tower tragedy led to much greater scrutiny of fire doors, compartmentation and escape routes in residential buildings.
DOOR GLASS
All glazing meets the safety standard of EN12600. The Contemporary fire doorset comprises the ‘Greenfire DGU’ which offers EW30 fire glass as part of a DGU. The EW fire rating assists in maintaining radiated heat in front of the glazing
below a specified level. The second pane of glass is certified to EN356 P2A exceeding latest Approved Document Q building regulation as well as Secured by Design. The DGU is suitable for external locations as it also contains low emissivity UV protection and is argon filled to give a low thermal transmittance value which assists with the overall UV.
UPCOMING ESTATE IMPROVEMENTS
Tarmac and Paving
To continue maintaining and improving the Cedars estate for our residents, CETRA will be carrying out improvements to the tarmac and paved areas of the estate.
Replacement and Repainting of Garage Doors
We will continue to use our reserves to repaint a number of garage doors this year.